PORT ELIZABETH - Determined batting by Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steered Pakistan to a five-wicket victory in the second test against South Africa today to level the series at 1-1.
Younis was 67 not out with Kamran Akmal on 57, the pair adding 99 for the unbrokensixth wicket to pull Pakistan out of trouble to reach the victory target of 191 just before tea on day four.
South Africa were dismissed for 124 in their first innings, to which Pakistan replied with 265. The home side totalled 331 in their second innings.
Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock grabbed two wickets apiece to reduce Pakistan to 92 for five before Younis and wicketkeeper Akmal came together.
Pakistan resumed their second innings on eight without loss, and fast bowler Ntini made the breakthrough in the seventh over of the morning when Imran Farhat, who scored seven, edged an expansive drive to Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Two overs later Yasir Hameed was run out for six by Andre Nel's direct hit on the stumps at the non-striker's end from extra cover.
Pakistan slipped to 48 for three when Mohammad Hafeez was trapped in front by medium pacer Pollock for 32 with a delivery that seemed to be sliding down the leg side.
Pollock might have dismissed Khan for five in his next over, but he failed to hold a return catch that would have reduced Pakistan to 51 for four.
South Africa stayed in the hunt by taking the key wickets of Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq in the first nine overs after lunch.
Yousuf scored 18 before steering a delivery from Pollock to Herschelle Gibbs in the gully while Ntini trapped Inzamam in front for one with a ball that seemed to hit the Pakistan captain outside the line of off-stump.
However, Khan and Akmal took the game away from South Africa with safe strokes and steady scoring.
South Africa won the first test by seven wickets in Centurion. The deciding test starts in Cape Town on Friday.
